Page 14 - EducationWorld June 2022_Neat

Education News

DELHI With the top 10 percent undergrad
Overdue first step colleges notifying high 95 percent-

plus cut-offs in class XII school-leav-
ing examinations, the vast majority
of higher secondary school-leavers
are forced into second rung state
government colleges dispensing
poor quality education. Similarly,
the great majority of college gradu-
ates are forced into sub-standard
universities. According to several
authoritative studies, 75-85 percent
of India’s higher education graduates
are unqualified for employment in
Indian and foreign multinationals.
Therefore, the only option for am-
bitious school-leavers is to venture
abroad for higher study. Currently,
over 1 million Indian nationals are
enrolled in foreign universities
mainly in the US, UK, Australia and
Canada where they expend $10 bil-
Indian students in the US: more affordable option lion (Rs.77,655 crore) per year.
Unsurprisingly, there’s been con-
A higher educational institutions. It is sistent clamour for access to offshore
LONG-PENDING PROPOSITION
endorsed by the National
study programmes which would en-
expected that academic and research
Education Policy (NEP)
students and faculty through joint
2020 to internationalise isolationist collaboration as well as mobility of able Indian students to acquire high
quality certification. Moreover, since
Indian higher education has received degree and dual degree programmes cost of living is the major head of ex-
some traction. On May 2, the Delhi- will be highly beneficial for the In- penditure in foreign HEIs, twinning
based University Grants Commission dian higher educational institutions and joint degree programmes which
(UGC) — the apex body for higher to achieve higher global rankings,” allow students to complete 50-70
education regulation — notified says a typical badly worded UGC percent of degree programmes in In-
the University Grants Commission communique to universities. dia and the remainder in the partner
(Academic Collaboration between While privately promoted uni- HEI abroad, makes good quality
Indian and Foreign Higher Educa- versities, unmindful of government higher education more affordable.
tional Institutions to offer Twinning, disapproval, started contracting “The new regulations are welcome
Joint Degree and Dual Degree Pro- academic collaboration agreements as we are living in an age of collabo-
grammes) Regulations, 2022. with foreign universities two decades ration where mutually rewarding
According to UGC sources, fol- ago, for reasons ranging from na- partnerships have become neces-
lowing issuance of elaborate guide- tionalistic pride, anti-elitism and fear sary. Collaboration between reputed
lines in April and May for twinning, of students being duped, Central and foreign and Indian universities will
joint and dual degree programmes, state government universities were raise teaching-learning and research
48 respected foreign higher educa- prohibited from offering twinning standards, and infuse internationali-
tion institutions (HEIs) including and joint degree agreements with sation mindsets in India’s HEIs. And,
Cambridge, Glasgow, Tokyo and offshore HEIs. Now under the May 2 most important, from the student
Queensland universities have writ- notification, government and private perspective, it provides them greater
ten to the commission expressing HEIs are permitted to sign twinning, choice and affordability,” says rof .
P
interest in collaborating with Indian joint and dual degree agreements R a j e s h K h a n n a , president of
HEIs. with approved foreign varsities. NIIT University, Neemrana, ranked
“These Regulations shall (sic ) pro- It’s not a national secret that of among India’s Top 10 private engi-
mote enhanced academic collabora- India’s 41,000 undergrad colleges neering & technology universities in
tion with foreign higher educational and 1,043 universities, a mere 10 the EducationWorld India Higher
institutions leading towards academ- percent in each category provide Education Rankings 2022-23.
ic and research excellence in Indian acceptable quality higher education. Although the new UGC regula-

14 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2022